Honoring and Serving our Military and Veterans

ABA President’s Corner

Fascism during World War II… Remember, the American troops were in Burma. “ And in ABA’s very first mission statement, the first of three missions was to “honor both the Allied and Axis veterans of the Burma Campaign of the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of WWII in Asia”. As our servicemen and servicewomen have been challenged to support military needs in many additional theaters since WWII, ABA has expanded its outreach to honor veterans of more recent conflicts as well. I’m proud that our organization is about something larger than the individual benefits that can be achieved through the practice and preservation of Hanthawaddy System of Bando.

One of the most visible ways we honor the sacrifices of our military personnel and veterans is by holding our events on weekends that commemorate important events or themes. This year, we will be holding events on the weekends associated with Armed Services Day (May), Victory over Japan (V-J) Day (August), and Veterans Day (November). These weekends are an opportunity to remind all who participate in our camps the gratitude we owe to our veterans. And last year (2017), ABA donated three thousand, three hundred dollars to support to a number of national groups serving Veterans, including the USO, the Disabled American Veterans, Fisher House, and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

ABA thanks our many members and friends who contributed to the “Care Packages for Veterans” collection. Over our three national camps in Strouds Run Park (Athens, Ohio) last year, ABA collected gifts to share with those serving overseas. We received snack items, games, reading material, condiments, coffee supplies, and toiletries that could be sent overseas. Many of you also provided money that was used for additional supplies and to help pay for mailing these packages. Overall, ABA sent eleven care packages in 2017 – a way to directly help those who are far from the comforts of home.

This year, ABA also provided some Christmas cheer to a disabled veteran family in the Washington DC area. Wakeel Abdullah, who has been serving with the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, shared with us the special request of a family where both heads of the household were dealing with significant disabilities; one had served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in Operation Enduring Freedom. ABA provided gifts for their three children as well as some items for their father and mother, providing a personal message of support and care.

ABA encourages everyone to support our veterans through club-level or individual efforts (eg, see our Crossed Swords article on Michael Gallagher’s support of the “Paws and Stripes” project). We’d love to hear how you are honoring our Veterans and those currently serving in the military, whether it be something as simple as attending a local ceremony, supporting fund-raisers, or actively helping with Veterans’ needs. Sharing your story can help encourage our other members to find inspiration and explore their own way of honoring our Veterans.

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50th Annual Boxing for Books event

November 11, 2025

The American Bando Association/National Bando Association of America (ABA/NBAA) extends our gratitude to everyone who attended or participated in the 50th Annual Boxing for Books event hosted by Sam’s Gym on November 2, 2025. This year’s milestone gathering was a tremendous success, filled with spirit and sportsmanship. A special thank you to Mr. Sam Jones for inviting the ABA/NBAA to showcase a series of full-contact Bando matches, featuring talented fighters from Athens Bando and PA Bando. It was inspiring to see the match ups as well as other Bando members from differing areas come together to support this event and its charitable mission. As the nation commemorates Veterans Day, we are proud to say that Bando’s mission continues to honor veterans through discipline, respect, and the warrior spirit. During the event, a moving salute to our great veterans reminded all in attendance of the sacrifice and service that safeguard our freedoms. To all veterans within our Bando family and beyond we thank you and wish you a heartfelt Happy Veterans Day. Your courage and dedication remain an inspiration to us all.

Strouds Run Animal/Yoga Camp August 23–25, Athens, Ohio

September 2, 2025

We are pleased to share that this year’s Animal/Yoga Camp, held August 23rd–25th at its original outdoor location in Strouds Run, Athens, Ohio, was a well-attended and memorable gathering. The weekend reflected both the strength of our traditions and the dedication of our Bando Brotherhood and Sisterhood. A sincere thank you goes to the animal masters who shared their lifetime of knowledge, preserving and carrying forward the systems originally taught to many of us by Dr. U Maung Gyi: • Boar: Dave Kinney • Bull: Heather Hogan, Jeff Stanton, Carl Knoyer • Cobra: Stephen Knoyer • Eagle: Mary Mester • Panther: Steve Jasek • Scorpion: Dwight Lucas • Tiger: Jerry George, Derek George, Mark Clayton • Yoga: Gary Layton, Cheryl Cesta, James Sheeran and Karena Kilcoin Our “why” remains clear: to maintain and provide extensive animal training for dedicated members, offering opportunities for growth through events that call upon discipline, perseverance, and respect. We extend congratulations to Ron Minnix and Anthony Wilburn on their promotion to Seventh Level. In addition, we were honored to witness Grand Master Tim Fleming, together with Gary Layton, personally entrust the cherished Panther system to the very deserving Aaron McAvoy. This passing of knowledge marked a profound and inspiring moment for all in attendance. Looking to the future, discussion was held to include a time slot at next year’s camp for basic matrix unification. This addition will strengthen transparency and shared understanding of the foundational matrix, the very base of our Bando system. We are also pleased to remind that our annual November full-contact fighting event will be held in conjunction with Mr. Sam Jones’ Boxing for Books, traditionally hosted the first weekend of November. Mr. Jones and his team have carried on this remarkable effort for over 50 years, and it is an honor for us to join forces for such a meaningful cause. We look forward to welcoming many fighters to this unique collaboration. More details will be shared in the future. In closing, we thank every participant, instructor, and supporter who made this year’s camp a success. Special appreciation also goes to those who took the time to set the camp up—Mark Semingson, Gary Layton, Cheryl Cesta, Mary Mester, and many others—whose hard work made the weekend possible. Together, we uphold a tradition of excellence while building a future of strength, respect, and unity within our Bando community.

A reminder for the ABA/NBAA Summer Training Camp

June 21, 2025

Bando Brothers and Sisters, A reminder for the ABA/NBAA Summer Training Camp August 22-24 2025 Strouds Run Campground Athen’s, Ohio Registration: $60 prior to August 1 as well as a current member status $90 after August 1 or non-current members Attending ABA/NBAA events is vital to staying connected to our roots and growing in both skill and spirit. Our national training camps are where the depth of the Bando system truly comes to life. From some to include the powerful Animal Systems to the discipline of Bando Yoga, these camps offer training you won’t find anywhere else. The in-depth focus on the Nine Animal Styles and Bando Yoga is not just tradition; it’s part of the heart of our system. These camp opportunities are more than just events—they’re where brotherhood, sisterhood, technique and tradition come together. We encourage all instructors and students to attend to experience what makes our system truly unique.